I was talking the other day with a male coworker about reading signals, and he (of course) opined that men are “easy” to understand and everything with them is very obvious. My response was that as a woman, nothing about men seems that obvious or easy to understand, plus women are prone to overanalyzing.
He said that if a man is talking to a woman, he is probably interested in her. (He thinks that women are constantly approached. I disagreed.) I said that yes, sometimes the man is interested, but what if he’s just being nice?
This did not seem to compute with my coworker. But I’d say there’s a good chance that most women have run into the “he’s just being nice” scenario, where she thought that the guy was showing some interest, typically by singling the woman out in some way (often: some mixture of one-on-one conversations, isolation, kino), but in actuality, he’s just being nice and has no interest beyond the platonic.
Male readers, have you ever been the “just being nice” guy and inspired the ire of women? (“Just being nice” is not the same as being a Nice Guy, btw.) And how can a woman tell if a guy is just being nice? Female readers, have you ever crushed on a “just being nice” guy and gotten crushed in the process? Please weigh in below. I don’t have answers to this.
This really only happened to me when I was a Christian and waiting till marriage.
While I was attracted to and had crushes on girls, I was not allowed to act on or show that in any way. I had to explain to more than one girl that I wasn’t available in that way. I know that the two college roommates I had – both waiting-till-marriage Christians – had several women crushing on them, because they were good looking, intelligent, and kind – but unavailable for a physical relationship. Women could sense their high standards (they were looking for a wife after all – both are married now) and they both had multiple female orbiters.
I’m getting into a serious relationship now, and noticing the number of women who suddenly are interested in me. I find I’m able to approach women and “just be nice” because there is no agenda – which is attractive. Being a “nice guy” or direct both have an agenda of some kind. When I’m not looking and talking to a girl I’m just expressing myself without expectation. We’re just enjoying each others company.
I think it was Owen Cook of RSD who said the key to game is “intention plus freedom from outcome.” When I’m just hanging out with a girl, there is total freedom from outcome – but there is no intention. If a woman wants to tell the difference, look for intention. A man who wants you sexually is going to move things that direction – or be qualifying you to see if you’re someone he is interested in.
The most common reasons I or a guy I know would “just be nice” are if he is in a serious relationship or not looking for a partner for whatever reason… or he has high standards and hasn’t decided yet. Men who are looking for a committed relationship or wife may fall into this category – as evaluating someone for that takes longer than just finding mutual attraction.
I generally just assume my female friends are attracted to me, and it’d make sense if women did the same. If you’re an attractive person, it’s probably there. If you get friendzoned as a woman, it’s probably not lack of attraction but high standards on his part or avoiding something in the girls personality that turned him off.
If you’re an attractive guy, what happens nine times out of ten is the girl flirts with you relentlessly and often, corners you, talks to you, stands near you, the whole bit. Girls are terrible at controlling this reaction around a guy they’re attracted to. We can see your dilated pupils, ladies.
If you like the girl, you flirt back, touch, the usual.
If you’re not interested, she touches you, flirts, the usual. You talk just like you would with anyone else.
The problem is, the girl is doing enough flirting for the both of you. She’s laughing at every other comment, touching your arm, and her eyes are moony dinner plates of interest and lust. Whatever you do will be interpreted as interest. It can’t not be. The girl has become a hysterical black hole pulling in any and every bit of energy you put out, drawing it deep within her bio-luminescent heart, crushing it down to particles and separating it at an atomic level , then using the base matter to construct something she can interpret as interest.
You could sneeze in her face at this point, and your sneeze will be horribly and perversely transmogrified into an indicator of approval and sexual desire. You can tell her the weather has been nice lately, and she will hear ‘I want to be inside you’. You can accidentally spill your drink on her new merino wool scarf, and she will think it’s cute you’re trying to get her naked.
You could say and do absolutely nothing, and after incoherently babbling and giggling at you for five minutes, she will walk away thinking ‘OMG HES SOO CUTE I THINK HE LIKES ME!!!11!11!’.
There is nothing a man can do. Many attractive men have been forced to become cold, distant, and apathetic, just to stem the flow. This often increases the attraction, paradoxically, however it has the advantage of discouraging approach.
This is where you get the ‘Stalker Lite’. Avoid eye contact at all costs. She will take any opening. Be afraid. Never stand anywhere alone. Sit with you back to the wall, and one eye on the door.
This happens to me a lot. You may have inferred this.
When it counts, you will not be able to tell if the guy is just being nice.
Your best bet is to stand near the guy, and wait to see if he initiates. If he does not initiate, all conversations between you are conversations in which he is just being nice. Please stop flirting with him, it makes him uncomfortable.
We’ve lost so many good men that were just trying to be polite. They did nothing, but still, they came, and after being harangued, hounded, hunted at every turn by those misguided fat girls, these men took their own lives.
Everything I’ve written above goes double for a fat girl. Men, if you see a fat girl, don’t move. They can’t see you if you don’t move.
This is all I have to say on this topic.
Reasons a guy would “just be nice”.
Blue pill men -
Pity
Appreciating the attention
Girl is a really good conversationalist (fairly rare)
Girl is new to social circle
Is new to social circle himself
Girl is friends with girl he’s crushing on/is beta orbiting
Red pill men -
Practicing turning on the charm
Trying to make target (another girl) intrigued
Likes girl
You may think of this as trolling, but I think men and women should be segregated if women get flustered when men are nice to them.
Still seems like a bit of projection on Haley’s part.
It’s been said (and they’re right), that guys will look for almost any reason to sleep with a girl, while girls will look for any reason NOT to sleep with a guy. Biological imperative, all that. Of course, the only difference are at the extreme ends. Really attractive men (who have more women available than time to deal with them) will obviously filter, while unfortunate women won’t be that choosy in accepting guys. So, keeping that in mind…
When you say “platonic” are we talking about sexual interest or commitment interest? Because with the former, unless you’re really bad looking, he probably won’t refuse you. If you’re talking relationship, then the “non interest” can be explained as:
1) He is already committed to someone else.
2) He thinks you are.
3) He doesn’t have room for romance in his life at the moment.
4) Consequences (anything external like… worrying about sexual harassment rules, also put morality under here – like if he thinks it would be wrong to go out with you)
5) Something about you as ruled you out as a long term thing with the guy.
Hah, you’re assuming any woman liked me. Yeah, I’ve “just been nice” but that’s because of where I was raised, you were polite to everyone. I don’t think I’ve broken any hearts.
Well, there’s direct (throw yourself at him, see if he retreats) and then there’s subtle. Most subtle would probably be touch escalation. Just touch him and see how he reacts. You know, like your post about the side hug. That’s a good guideline.
I’ve been nice to women but without interest in anything romantic. Sometimes the woman is sane and doesn’t start having delusions, and other times, with less sane women, it turns into Vicomte’s situation. In college I played basketball and I had to talk to a lot of women I didn’t know very well. My social style is easygoing/ameable and many of these women took my kindness as interest. Days, sometimes weeks later I’d bump into these women at some other function and not remember that we had any interaction at all. The women would remember me, have hampstered more into their version of our interaction, and then get really frustrated when I didn’t react to their mere presence in a room. Next thing you know, they are telling their girlfriends that I am an ass, stuck-up, blah blah, all in obvious anger that they didn’t grab my attention. It worked out quite well for me. Eventually my reputation would create a buzz at social events, which only worked to my advantage with the women I wanted to poke, plow, and bend over the nearest chair.
Sometimes it pays to be nice. And then bad. Dirty bad.
Yeah my experience in college was that if he asks for my phone number it’s never happening. And when I say ask I mean “Hey, would you give me your phone number.” It wasn’t like I misinterpreted a request to check algebra homework. That confused me. It didn’t break my heart or anything, but I didn’t get why I could easily hang out with the guys I ran into at the gym or at the library with absolutely no expectations and then one guy would ask for my phone number and essentially disappear for the rest of the semester.
“And how can a woman tell if a guy is just being nice?”
I have no idea how a woman can tell if a random guy is “just being nice.” However, I can tell you how a woman can tell if I’m just being nice: If I don’t ask for a number or a date, then I’m just being nice. Other guys are likely to be different.
Beta, if a guy is stumbling over his words, stuttering and isn’t in speech therapy, is looking at the ground or fidgity, and struggling to find things to talk about punctuated with a lot of ‘ummm’s and ‘uhhhhh’s…. he likes you.
Alpha, if he’s a guy thats staring right into your eyes, smiling with his teeth, talking smooth and calm, checks you out by looking you up and down, and speaks to you with flirty overtones and innuendos that make you turn beet red, blush and dampen your panties like going over Niagara Falls… he likes you.
Else.. move on.
My opinion is that for men you either like a woman or you don’t. If I like a woman as a friend, it means I’m attracted to her. It doesn’t mean I don’t value her friendship. Just that if the situation was right, I’d be interested in more than friendship. So if the woman was married, I’d still be pleased to talk to her and spend time with her. It’s just that in the hypothetical situation that she was single and I was single, I would be eager to pursue a romantic relationship.
So if other guys are like me, I’d conclude that a man approaching you probably likes you. Maybe he’s dating someone else, so he won’t pursue the romantic angle. Maybe the age difference is too great, and despite liking you he does’t feel you’d be a suitable partner.
Occasionally if I’m in a new situation and don’t really know anybody, I might just approach whomever seems open. So the idea would be to forge a social connection and if the woman shows some positive qualities, I will become interested in her as a friend or romantic partner. But I’d be unsure going in.
Long story short – usually if a man approaches you he is interested on some level.
@Vicomte – Your comment struck me – because I’ve had that happen, where a woman will feel something for me, not be okay with her level of sexual desire and then project it.
The most common way this comes out is she’ll preemptively say no to sex. As in “I know that [indirect way of saying I'm really attractive, like that I probably date a lot or have really good eyes] but I’m just [excuse for not having sex - looking for a relationship, really busy with work, not able to for whatever reason].” She’ll then ask me not to do anything – outsourcing her conscience and self-control to me. I used to just shrug and say “I wasn’t planning on anything” but I’ve found that when the same woman puts the moves on me later – goes anime eyes, snuggles against me, leans in and parts her lips – she’ll blame ME for her behavior. “You made me do that.” No, I’m just attractive and you wanted me and didn’t want to take responsibility for your sexual attraction. So now when a woman says “we shouldn’t” I’ll put the responsibility for sexuality back on her – “if that’s what you want, it’s up to you” or “yeah, try and keep it in your pants.”
For the record, I’ve had people tell me I should do modeling. I suspect most women aren’t used to experiencing that level attraction and have never developed any game of their own. It’s all passive game, and when I don’t respond… the frustration and blame is almost visible.
P.S. We need a “good looking guys” game blog.
Do I reap women’s suspicion and anger when I sow compassion, charity, and assistance?
Oh HELL yeah. All the time.
Yesterday, it was dropping off 4 boxes of chocolate pudding to the county’s children shelter.
Friday, it was for not pestering a woman who had been indifferent to me 3 days prior.
I’m going to meet with other single people later this evening, some women included. Something will come up.
“The most common reasons I or a guy I know would “just be nice” are if he is in a serious relationship or not looking for a partner for whatever reason… or he has high standards and hasn’t decided yet. Men who are looking for a committed relationship or wife may fall into this category – as evaluating someone for that takes longer than just finding mutual attraction.”
The latter argument (about not having decided because of high standards) is correct. Other than that, no, there’s no way I’d ever “just be nice”–just like men and women aren’t “just friends”.
Could the confusion between you and your coworker be about apex fallacy? He may be drawing experience from a larger pool of men. The one, you know, that women don’t find attractive.
I seem to somehow run into an inordinate amount of guys who are just being nice. They talk to me for hours in person/over text/over chat, single me out, tease me, flirt with me, but do any of them want to go out with me? Nope.
And I’m not going up and flirting with these guys either, they are normally initiating these conversations with me and I only flirt if they flirt with me first.
I think your friend’s advice is a good first order approximation for most guys in random situations where a strange guy starts talking to an odd women for no sound reason. But, I think it really only applies when guys (and girls?) are working from a scarcity mindset. Personally, when I’ve got a good set of options and am operating from a rock solid abundance mindset, it’s easy to be “just nice” to random girls I meet. But the idea of “liking them” don’t really exist either. It’s more like “they seem cool, what will be will be…the process will sort things out”.
Body language is important, but it can go very wrong (my experience at least) if the guy isn’t interested in the girl but feels awkward because he’s trying to be nice. I think someone above already kind of mentioned this. I hate those types of situations, for example you sense that a chubby girl likes you but you then go all beta to avert the rocks and she thinks a) you’re nervous because you like her and b) you’re low value enough that she has a chance.
Anyway, back to the point. Typically in a situation where a guy approaches a girl to talk (or even singles her out in a new group) there’s a cost, investment, risk. So unless the guy is stupid (which can’t be discounted!) there’s a reward/return that the guy is trying to achieve (which was probably really at the heart of what your friend was trying to say).
Reasons for approach: interest in the girl (far most common), desire for attention/narcissistic supply (honestly isn’t this at the root of 90% of human interaction?), networking (I do this a *lot*) and social engineering (roll your own small group, book club, etc), triangulation, etc.
Once you already know a girl (running in the same friend circle) and the new has warn off though, I don’t think there’s generally much risk/any risk associated with the transaction (i.e. talking). In church, a bit of gossip maybe, if it happens frequently. In this situation, I don’t think there’s much predictive value in actions. I’m generally “just being nice” to lots of girls at this stage, but a lot of churchie couples seem to result from friends that grow attached. That being said, I don’t know that there’s much that a same-league platonic non-couple-couple can talk about that’s worth being said (gossip, complaining, etc) but not turn romantic. At least I don’t talk that way.
Going back to risk involved with approaching or getting to know a new girls. In this situation, if a beta approaches a girl intent is obvious because it’s not normally in his nature to do a lot of risk/initiative. But the more a guy approaches an alpha ideal, a) the lower the transaction costs (people expect/accept your behavior/won’t risk acknowledging your rule breaking/etc) and b) the harder it is to know if he’s really interested in a girl. (Again, what does that mean? Engagement ring maybe?)
This is where in my experience girls that don’t keep their expectations in check get “hurt” a lot. Something like…Girl gets adjusted to supplicating betas approaching her with a preformed interest in her even though they don’t know her. Then one day Great Guy alpha man or even greater beta man with some game comes along. Great Guy approaches, gets contact info, invites to event(s), introduces to circle of friends, etc. (If Great Guy is really a great guy though, its assume he’s also adding guys he meet that seem are cool to his “tribe”, otherwise something’s not really as it seems). Girl projects her attraction onto him, but eventually feels duped and blames Great Guy. Talk about refusing the 15/16th full glass! Rather than realizing her gain in social capital, being introduced to a new tribe, etc, she gets angry that she can’t have everything to her liking.
+1 Nate
Nice guys need painfully obvious iois. Side hugs, yes. Given most nice guys are accostomed to continual rejection, too much kino is overwhelming.
Most girls misjudge the average guys reading of their receptivity. Those normal guys do NOT get it. All they see is 80% of girls pining for 20% of guys.
BDM,
Assanova used to have the market conered on good-looking guy game. He eventually turned into a total game denialist and shut his blog down. It’s understandable, really.
Basically it amounts to upping the beta/comfort game and toning down the alpha/aloof game. The preemptive rejection is basically the biggest sticking point.
“P.S. We need a “good looking guys” game blog.”
@BDM. I second that.
I find the stakes to be higher. Women *expect* you to have game and if you don’t or don’t feel like it at that moment, the frustration level goes through the roof. Basically, they want to pedestalize you as Prince Charming and get filled with righteously furious anger if you don’t live up to the expectations they constructed in their own heads.
Absolutely fascinating.
May start a game / lifestyle blog early 2014 after I handle a couple things.
LOL why am I thinking of Jurassic Park right now?
I echo the notion that women tend to believe what they want to in this regard.
The truth is, if he isn’t asking you out, he’s just being nice.
Also take venue into account where making people feel welcome is part of the environment – I.e church, social gatherings, party where one is the host, etc
“The truth is, if he isn’t asking you out, he’s just being nice.”
Perhaps, but “just being nice” doesn’t necessarily mean “isn’t attracted to you”. He could be like the guy in this comic:
http://xkcd.com/642/
Of course, when women ask the “is he just being nice” question, the “he” is almost always the handsome charismatic alpha type she wants, not the shy beta that she probably doesn’t want.
Retrenched–
Of course, when women ask the “is he just being nice” question, the “he” is almost always the handsome charismatic alpha type she wants, not the shy beta that she probably doesn’t want.
Well, yeah. Usually because it’s a lot more obvious that the beta is interested. “Beta longing” is pretty easy to spot.
Whoa, hang on, Haley.
Therefore this whole post sounds like rationalization. After all, you just said betas are easy to spot. And from what I’ve read, it seems that a hallmark of an alpha is being forward and direct. (in other words, you don’t have to wonder, because he will ask you out soon)
Seems like you’ve already answered the post. If he’s interested, you’ll know, otherwise if you have to ask, he’s “just being nice” and you’re trying to give yourself hope that he might be interested.
Oh and I’d like to amend Retrenched’s point. He’s spot on. With public shaming (see: the “guys of ok cupid” and “elevatorgate” for examples) and byzantine sexual harassment laws, some sane guys just plane don’t find some girls worth the risk.
Nate–
I said USUALLY! Many a girl has gotten hung up on some guy who sort of hangs around and sometimes initiates and sometimes doesn’t, but he’s not always an obvious alpha.
Interesting factoid: guys usually talk to girls they find attractive.
Ah, ok, Aunt Haley. So maybe this time it’s a rationalization of a guy who’s maybe a bit beta (or lower) and the girl is trying to talk herself into thinking he’s more alpha. ;)
Anyway, like I said, ways to tell if he’s “just being nice”.
1) He’s taken.
2) You’re taken.
3) Something (like fear of shaming and/or laws) is holding him back.
Oh, and the premise for those are that the guy has approached the girl. If the girl approaches the guy, he’s probably just being nice as you may not be attractive enough for him.
“P.S. We need a “good looking guys” game blog.”
@BDM. I second that.
I find the stakes to be higher. Women *expect* you to have game and if you don’t or don’t feel like it at that moment, the frustration level goes through the roof.
That’s the saddest thing I’ve read all day. It’s like those starving African kids with the big bellies or something. We should start a charity, raise some funds, help you guys out.
Stay strong, man.
Have to tell the girls that YES – many, many times guys are just being nice. Not sure why but it seems just about every girl I meet seems to think she has a chance with me. Now I’m talking a pretty wide range of girls here. Perhaps because I’m on the a quiet side these women think I am full on beta or something, but I definitely am not dtf anything female that moves. I’d say I have a sexual interest in less than 10% of the women I meet. I’m not saying I’m some male model or anything – I’m okay looking but probably on the fringe of the top 15-20% in looks, but tall and somewhat athletic. Usually in a social setting I will talk to the second or third tier of girls mainly because I have no desire to be one of many talking to the most beautiful. Usually the girls I’m interested in are not the stunners, but there has to be some quality about her – pretty face, good personality, etc. The ones who are more aloof grab my interest more.
Kuraje–
I find the stakes to be higher. Women *expect* you to have game and if you don’t or don’t feel like it at that moment, the frustration level goes through the roof.
Women expect good-looking guys to have game because the women assume that the men are experienced with women. A good-looking guy who is lame around women is like a broken man or something to a woman’s mind. She wonders how he can possibly have been approached by so many women and still have no clue. (Good looks absolutely will cause women to approach/chase men. They won’t keep a woman around, but they do open the door in a way that an average-looking guy will not experience.)
I’m late to the party, but had to comment on this sentence:
> My response was that as a woman, nothing about men seems that obvious or easy to understand, plus women are prone to overanalyzing.
There was an interesting study of speed dating. Researchers videotaped the speed-daters in Europe, then asked the daters if they were interested in seeing each other again. Americans later watched the videos and tried to determine if they were interested in another date. Note that the Americans didn’t speak the language as the speed daters; they could only evaluate body language, tone of voice, facial expression, etc. Nonetheless, male and female Americans could fairly accurately predict if the men were interested in another date. But neither male or female observers could predict if the women were interested better than 50/50. Thus, there’s at least one study showing that men are much easier to ‘read’ in a dating/romantic setting, and that neither sex can ‘read’ women with any consistent accuracy or predictability. [Place et al, (2009). The ability to judge the romantic interest of others. Psychological Science, 20(1), 22-26.]
My assessment, based on personal observation and studies like the one mentioned above, is that women do indeed tend to over-analyze. Moreover, when women complain that nothing about men men seems that obvious or easy to understand it’s usually a sign that women are so caught up in their over-analysis that they can’t distinguish between the contents of their mind and objective reality. I’ve lost track of the number of times women have asked my opinion, in dating contexts or otherwise, only to use my words as a springboard to a further torrent of verbal diarrhea which displays, at best, an indirect and tenuous connection to my comments. My words and thoughts simply don’t matter to women most of the time. It’s just grist for her mill of egocentric free-association.
Men are simple.
Men want sex, companionship, praise for their accomplishments and hard work, and a bit of time for fun. That’s about it. Any women who helps a man obtain those things will earn his endless loyalty and support.But to help a man obtain those things, a woman needs to turn off her ego and stop thinking about herself. Lots of women don’t want to do that, or don’t know how to do it.
Haley, some women in that situation may be engaging in wishful thinking. But, in your case, what you’re describing as “just being nice” sounds to me more like “ambivalent attraction”. He’s attracted to you, but not enough to make a clear move. What seems like mixed signals are actually clear signals of mixed feelings.
Disclaimer: this comment is from a male.
Women display their interest by flirting. Men display their interest in asking for a number or date.
Men do not flirt. If a man is flirting, he is acting like a girl anyway so what’s the point?
A man receives 100% confirmation of interest when a woman gives him her number and agrees to go on a date with him. Sure, she could just be ‘using him’, but the smart man would weed out such women eventually. Asking a girl out is the most efficient way a guy has to finding out if she is interested.
The Real Man WEEDS OUT women. He doesn’t try to ‘express interest’.
If I wanted to go to a steakhouse and asked a woman to come with me, if she said no (and I offered another place and she still said no), I’d assume LOW INTEREST and not call her again.
My point is that LOW INTEREST signals are easier to detect than high interest signals.
If your case, Haley, I still think the best thing for women is to look for LOW INTEREST signals instead of trying to see if there are high interest signals. The surest way to see if the guy is being nice is if he was in a confined area such as work. A guy at work has to be nice to everyone at work because it is work.
What I want to know from women is whether or not they are available, meaning that they are single. Many women try to hide that they are single which means guys aren’t going to ask her out. Some girls wear all these rings, and it is difficult to tell if they are married or not. I don’t want to ask out a woman who is married.
Flirting and looking for signals is definitely something women should do. But I would stress low interest signals. if the guy is in a confined environment (such as work), a woman shouldn’t waste time thinking about him.
Guys are nice when talking to people when they are confined. Guys are interested when talking to people when they are not confined.
I don’t think that it’s that hard to tell whether a guy is just being nice. Anytime I’ve thought, “I wonder if he’s interested in me or if he’s just being nice,” it always turns out that he’s just being nice. If a guy is interested in me, he usually does or says something obvious within a short period of time.
I think it could also be that a man talks to a woman because he’s somewhat interested (maybe he likes your personality but isn’t sure about your looks, or likes your looks but isn’t sure you have enough in common to go out).
I think that one source of confusion is that sometimes, a man starts off with mild interest. But early on, he realizes that the spark isn’t there. He may continue to be nice, but he has lost romantic interest. This may be a little confusing for the woman, who (correctly) detected some initial romantic interest.
I agree with that. My brother told me that he asked a girl out to a group activity once because he was attracted to her and got along with her, but he never asked her out again because he couldn’t picture himself in a relationship with her. Then he had to avoid the girl, because she was still interested in him and was probably wondering why he didn’t pursue anything further. This goes further than “just being nice”, but it illustrates y81′s point that sometimes a guy might have some romantic interest at first, and then realize that the “spark” isn’t there.
I think the same thing can happen to girls, but in a different sense. I once met someone who seemed nice, normal, and met the minimum threshold for someone I’d be interested in; but he was pursuing another girl. I often seem to attract overly nerdy or overly zany or chatty people (or both), and I definitely sometimes thought, “I wish someone stable like ‘X’ could be interested in me for a change.” Then I saw ‘X’ again when he was single, and from the way we were interacting with each other, I realized that if we spent more time together, something actually might end up happening, and I wasn’t sure if I liked the idea! Similarly, I feel like sometimes a man might spend a lot of time chatting to a girl without asking her out because he likes the possibility of dating her more than the reality.